Means for elevating doors



May 15, 1934. E. J. Fr-:HR E1- AL MEANS FOR ELEVATING DOORS Filed Jan. 25 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet ab@ MMM 977)/ V May 15, 1934. 1 E. J. FEHR Er AL 1,958,914

MEANS FOR ELEVATING DOORS Filed Jan. 25, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. J. FEHR ET AL MEANS FOR ELEVATING DOORS YMy 15, 1934.

Filed Jan. 25. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR ELEVATING DOORS Application January 25,

Claims.

This invention relates to means for elevating doors, its application being contemplated, primarily, to doors for railway house cars.

This invention has for an object the provision 5' of means eccentrica ly connected to doors and adapted to be cscillated for elevating the doors.

A further object is the provision of eccentrically connected elevating means for ball supported doors adapted to retain the balls properly relative to a supporting track.

It is likewise an object to provide elevating means for doors having an extensible operating lever movable from and toward the doors.

An object, as well, is the provision of oscillating elevating means, having stops to limit the oscillation thereof.

An object resides in the provisions of automatic means for maintaining the' door supporting balls substantially immovable when the door is in lowered position.

An object, moreover, is the provision of elevating means for doors including intermediate supporting bearings.

An object, also, is the provision of guard means to prevent pinching of the hand of the operator between the oscillating means and the door.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part oi the specification, and in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of an automobile house car on which is supported a pair of doors, embodying the elevating mechanism of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the plane indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the door in lowered and inward position.

Figure 3 is a section similar to that shown in Figure 2 but illustrating the lower portion of a door in elevated and outward position.

Figure 4 is an elevational detail of an automatic restraining device.

Figure y5 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated by line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on the plane indicated by line 6 6 of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated by line 7 7 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section of a modied form of the invention.

1930, Serial No. 423,524

Figure 9 is a similar View showing the door in elevated and outward position. Y

Figure 10 is a sectional detail view of a modied automatic restraining device.

Figure 11 is a sectional View showing a further modication oi restraining device.

Figure 12 is a front elevation of an extensible operating handle, forming part of the new elevating mechanism.

Figure 13 is a side elevation, and

Figures 14 and 15 are sectional views taken on planes indicated by lines 14-14 and 15-7-15, respectively, of Figure 12.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates, generally, an automobile house car provided with door openings 11 in its opposite longitudinal sides. These door openings are adapted to be closed by pairs of doors 12-12 of any desired construction and shown in the present embodiment as corrugated metal doors. Thesedoors, as shown in Figure 1, are provided at their adjacent edges, with a starting and` closing arrangement indicated generally at 13` and with a latching and sealing means shown at 14; The doors are supported for sliding movement relative to the car upon balls 15, mounted for relative rotational and translational movements upon a track 16, which is maintained in position below the door opening by means of brackets 17 rigidly secured to the car.

At their upper margins, the doors are guided for sliding movement and maintained from falling inwardly or outwardly by means of the marginal door member 18, shown in the present instance as a T section, and by means of the angular members 19 and 20 carried by the side plate 21. Briefly, the anges of the T shaped member 18 cooperate with the angular members 19 and 20 to form a seal for the upper edges of the doors, and by means of said flanges, the angular member 19 and the brackets 22, the

door is guided from and toward the door open-` ing in the raising and lowering movements of the doors. The subject matter of this construction is set forth and claimed in the' copending application of Kenneth J. Tobin,l led July 23, 1929, Serial No. 381,145,v and need not be further described herein. Inward movement of the lower edges of the doors may be obtained by means of brackets' 23 and cam portions 24- on the doors.

The novel elevating mechanism forming the subject matter of this invention is shown applied to each of the doors 12. 'Ihe elevating mechanism embodied in Figures 2 to 7, inclusive, in-

cludes a substantially continuous runway 25, which as shown in Figures 1 and 7, may be pivoted eccentrically at its ends in bearings 26 formed in castings or the like 2'7 secured to the door at its lower corners. This pivotal connection is effected by means of journals or pivots 28 formed, preferably, as part of the castings 29 shaped to fit and be secured Within the runway 25. It will be noted that the journals (see Figure '7) are related eccentrically to the runway 25. A stop-lug 30 is formed, preferably, integral with the casting 29 for a purpose hereinafter specified.

The runway 25, shown in the present embodiment, comprises two flanged sections 31 and 32, arranged with certain of their fianges in contact and with other flanges in spaced relation. These sections, which are preferably rolled, are shown as riveted together through their contacting flanges. The spaced iianges of said sections diverge downwardly and are maintained in proper spaced relationship by means of spacers 33, a pair of which is shown employed in each runway. These spacers additionally function in a manner hereinafter described.

Interposed between the track i6 and the runway 25 is a pair of balls 1 5, adapted to support the door for sliding movement. These balls are seated and loosely held in the opposite ends of a carrier` y34, comprising prongs 35 embracing the balls anda rod 36 connecting said prongs. The balls rest on the track and are positioned in the runway 25 so that the diverging anges thereof make contact therewith at points below the top of the ball. The connecting rod 36 is supported on the balls 15 so that the rod is positioned between the balls and the top of the runway. The rod, furthermore, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, lies between the spacers 33 and the top of the runway and out of contact with said spacers. The spacers, therefore, prevent the rod and consequently the ball carrier from dropping out of the carrier, and since the latter carries the balls, these may, together with the carrier, be shipped with the door as a unit.

The door, when in the elevated position shown in Figure 3, is supported upon the balls for sliding movement upon the track. When the door is in its lowered position, however, it is very desirable that the weight of the door be taken from the balls and carried directly by the track. To this end, when the door is lowered contacting engagement between the track and the castings 27 is established, whereby the door is frictionally supported upon the track.

When the door is in lowered position a certain amount of play or clearance occurs between the balls and the runway. This clearance, while slight, is not sufficient to prevent anyone from tampering with the balls and disturbing the proper condition of said balls relative tothe door. To obviate this difficulty, means is provided which will insure substantial xity between the door and the balls when the door is lowered. This means comprises, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, a pair of restraining fingers 37-37 pivoted in castings 38-38, carried by the door. These fingers are formed with trunnions 359-39, extending from opposite sides thereof. The trunnions and the fingers are adapted to be inserted into the castings 38 through slots 39' extending from the rear of the castings to a point adjacent the front thereof. After insertion of the ngers the castings are secured to the door, thereby closing the open ends of the slots and providing a secure assembly of the parts. The slots serve as well as bearings in which the trunnions are adapted to rotate. Each finger is provided with a portion 40 adapted to extend through a slot 41, formed in the top of the runway 25, so that said portion is adapted to have engagement with the connecting rod 36 of the ball carrier 34. It is apparent, therefore, that when the door is in lowered and in full open or full closed position, one of the pair of fingers will bear against the rod and the other of said fingers will lie in the path of movement of said balls. In lowered positions of the door between fully open and fully closed positions, both fingers will bear against the rod 36. In any lowered position of the door, therefore, it is clear that pressure eX- erted by the fingers on the connecting rod, will render the rod and consequently the balls substantially immovable relative to the door. The pressure of the lingers on the rod may be enhanced by the employment of springs 42.

In order to insure ease of sliding movement of the door, it is essential that the runway 25 be substantially straight. To maintain a straight runway means is utilized which counteracts any upward bowing tendency of the runway which may be caused by the weight of the door overhanging a supporting ball 15. This means, in the present embodiment of the invention, is shown in Figures 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings, and takes the form of a bearing member 43 secured to the diverging flange of the section 32 and spanning a cope or recess 44 formed in said flange. This bearing is preferably positioned substantially centrally of the runway. Secured to the door is a bracket member 45 adapted to be seated upon and conform to the bearing member 43. By this arrangement it is obvious that the weight of the door, acting through the bearing member 43, will exert a downward pressure, tending to make negligible any upward bowing tendency of the runway. 1t must be understood, however, that the aforementioned arrangement does not constitute any part of the normal elevating mechanism of the door.

From the foregoing descriptionthe operation of the elevating mechanism to lift the door will be readily understood. Assuming the door is in the lowered position shown in Figure 2 and it is desired tol slide lthe door, the operator grasps the lever means 46, which is shown secured to the runway 25, and pulls it forward away from the car. This forward pull causes a corresponding movement of the runway 25 with the result that the runway oscillates about the balls 15 as a fulcrum, the upper portion of the runway moving downwardly and the lower portion thereof moving upwardly. This upward movement brings about an upward movement of the eccentric pivots or journals 28, which have bearings in the castings 27, secured to the door and effect, consequently, an upward or raising movement of the door. The weight of the door has now been transferred from the track to the supporting balls 15 and a pull on the lever means 46 in the direction of desired movement of the door will result in sliding movement of the door. It, is apparent that during the forward pull on the lever the balls will move rtransversely of the track 16 so that the door will move away from the car side and thus avoid any obstructions thereon. The forward pull on the lever and corresponding oscillation of the runway will be limited .by contact between the brackets 27 and stop lugs 30. It will be apparent iroma consideration of Figure 7 of the drawings that during the Velevation of the door the runway 25 will rotate transversely to the door in the bearings 26 formed in the brackets 27, and the lugs 30, provided on the castings 29 which are secured 'to the runway, will approach the horizontal portions of the brackets 27 shown in this gure in engagement with the track. Since these lugs 30 overlap the horizontal portions of the brackets 27, said lugs and portions of the brackets will engage, whereupon it is manifest that further transverse rotation of said runway will be arrested. The door has then reached its fully elevated position. When it is desired to lower the door it is only necessary to release the lever, the weight of the door thereupon becoming effective to lower the door and again establish frictional engagement between the castings 27 and the track 16.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate a modification of the invention. The runway 47 is shown formed of an integral inverted V shaped member, the free margins of the diverging walls of which are inwardly turned toward each other as shown at 48 to provide means for retaining supporting balls in said runway. The diverging walls are maintained in spaced relationship by means of hollow spacers 49, through which securing rivets 50 are adapted to extend. A hood 51 is provided to protect the elevating mechanism, as well as to avoid accidental pinching of the hand of the operator, said hood being slotted as shown at 52 to permit operation of the lever means 53.

Modified restraining means is shown employed with the construction illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10. This means takes the form of a substantially inverted T shaped finger or plunger 54, the stern of which extends through a perforation in the runway 47 only slightly larger than the diameter of the stem. The portion of the head of the plunger which contacts with and is supported upon the connecting rod 55, is arcuate to conform substantially to said rod. The connecting rod is formed with substantially cylindrical curved enlargements 56 at its ends for embracing the supporting balls.

Fixed at one end to the door is a leaf spring 57,

the free end of which bears against the hood 51. When the door is in the raised position shown in Figure 9, it is clear that the balls, together with the connecting rod 55, are free to move relative to the runway and the plunger 54, which is retained against movement relative to the runway. When the door is in the lowered position shown in Figure 8, the plunger 54 is in contact with the spring 57, which causes the plunger to bear against the connecting rod 55 with such pressure as to prevent movement of the balls.

A further modied restraining means is shown in Figure 11. This construction employs a .bracket 38, similar to that shown in Figures 4 and 5, in which is pivotally mounted a iinger 58, differing from the nger 37 in the omission of the shouldered portions thereof. The finger 58 is positioned in alignment with the lever ,means 46, which when the door is lowered,

presses against the 'linger 58, this iinger in turn carrying such pressure to the connecting rod 36 and restraining the balls 15 from movement. By this construction it is possible to dispense 'with the spring 42, Figure 5, and it is necessary to use only one bracket and one nger Yfor each door.

Where a platform is used in loading or unloading a car embodying the lift mechanism disclosed, an extensible lever lmeans is found to be very desirable. One form of such lever means is illustrated in Figures 12 to 15, inclusive. The lever comprises a main body portion 59, preferably in the form of a casting, comprising a rear wall 60, side walls 61 and a front Wall 62, spaced from the rear wall 60. The front wall 62 is slotted for a portion of its length as shown at 63, thereby providing a pair of retaining ribs 64, adapted to maintainthe eXtension portion 65 in proper position relative to the main body portion. The bottom of the main body portion is shaped to conform to the runway to which it is attached and is providedwith a pair of oppositely extending projections 66, through which such attachment is effected. 'I'he extension 65 is adapted to be positioned in operative relationship to the body portion through the open end in the top portion thereof. A bolt 67, carried in the lower portion of the extension, is adapted in the extended position of the portion 65 for engagement with a shoulder on the upper part of the front wall, formed by the slot 63 to prevent disengagement of the parts of the lever. An opening 68 permits positioning of the bolt. A handle 69 is provided on the portion 65. It is apparent that when the door is operated from the ground the extension 65 may be maintained as shown in Figure 12,

However, where the operation occurs from av platform a greater leverage and a more conf venient grasp may be secured by extending the portion 65 relative to the main body portion.

Numerous changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. In combination a door, a supporting track therefor, a runway for said door having diverging flanges, means adjacent the ends of said runway eccentrically connecting said door and runway, rolling means seated in said runway and contacting with said flanges, said rolling means being supported upon said track and means secured to said runway whereby the latter may be oscillated about the rolling means as a fulcrum to elevate said door.

2. In combination with a door adapted for alternate elevating and lowering movements, rolling means for said door longitudinally movable relative thereto and means for maintaining said rolling means in substantial iixity relative to said door when the latter is in its lowered position.

3. In combination with a door adapted for alternate elevating and lowering movements rolling means for said door longitudinally movable relative thereto, a member carried by said door and forming a runway for said rolling means, an opening in said member and means adapted to render said rolling means substantially immovable relative to` said door when the latter is in its lowered position, comprising a portion adapted to extend through said openlng.

4. In combination with a door, rolling elements for said door, a member carried by said door and forming a raceway for said rolling elements, said member being capable of transverse oscillation relative to said door and means adapted to render said rolling elements substantially immovable relative to said door, said means being rendered operative or inoperative responsive to the oscillating movements of said member.

5. In combination with a door adapted for alternate elevating and lowering movements, rolling means for said door and means for maintaining said rolling means in substantial xity relative to said door when the latter is in its lowered position, said second mentioned means being ineffective in the elevated position of the door and comprising a finger pivotally carried by said door and means for exerting pressure upon said finger.

6. In combination with a door adapted for alternate elevating and lowering movements, balls adapted tosupport said door, lever mechanism for imparting a lifting movement to said door about said balls, and means for maintaining said balls in substantial xity relative to said door when the latter is in lowered position, said lever mechanism in said lowered position of the door bearing against said means.

7. In combination, a door, elevating mechanism therefor comprising, a member carried by said door and providing a raceway, rolling means seated in said raceway, an opening in said raceway, a bar extending between and engaging said rolling means, and lever means secured to said member for oscillating the same and elevating the door, and a pivotal finger carried by said door and adapted to extend throughl said opening for engagement with said bar when said door is in lowered position and adapted to be out of engagement therewith when the dooris in raised position, said lever means when the door is in lowered position being adapted to exert pressure on said finger.

8. In combination with a door, lifting mechanism therefor comprising, a longitudinally extending member, end pieces secured to said member, eccentric journals provided on said end members, brackets carried by said door having bearings for the reception of said journals whereby said member is adapted to have pivotal movement relative to the door and stop means carried by said end pieces and engageable with said brackets to limit said movement.

9. In elevating mechanism for a car door, a longitudinal member provided with a flange connected to` said door, a recess formed in said ange, a bearing secured to said flange and spanning the recess therein, a bracket secured to said door, said bracket having a portion conforming `to and engagingv said bearing and adapted to extend through said recess.

10. An elevating mechanism for a car door adapted for sliding vmovement upon a track, a longitudinally extending member providing a raceway eccentrically connected to said door, a plurality of balls seated in said raceway in rolling engagement with said track, a bearing se cured to said member substantially centrally thereof, and a bracket carried by said door oonforming to and engaging said bearing whereby to counteract any upward bowing tendency of said member.

EUGENE J FEHR. KENNETH J. TOBIN. FREDERICK C. I-IEINEN. 

